THE construction of African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa and China-aid ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, by Chinese government, has marked a new chapter in China-Africa relationship, deepening cooperation and jointly promoting West Africa’s development.

Although these massive ECOWAS structure in Abuja built at the cost of $56.5 million was not the first of its kind by Chinese government, observers said China is fast replacing other countries in the foreign policy thrust of Nigeria and other African countries.

While many have expressed worries of likely hidden agenda in foreign aids given to African countries including Nigeria, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Yu Dunhai, has unequivocally dispelled negative insinuations and propaganda against China allegedly orchestrated by the West.

At the official handover of the magnificent modern building, known as the ‘Eye of West Africa’ to ECOWAS, the Ambassador maintained that the relationship between China and Africa is based on the principle of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefitand win-win cooperation rather than exploitation.

“We follow the principle of noninterference and no political conditions attached, and also a rejection to the promise-only approach.

“Actually, our cooperation has always been based on the actual needs of African countries. We appreciate the strong support we received from ECOWAS member states, particularly when it comes to China’s foreign interests and major concerns on issues like the One-China principle and also on the international stage.

“And for China, we have always supported ECOWAS to play a leading role in the regional integration, peace, stability and regional development. So, this building is just a testament of China’s resolve to further our cooperation and coordination”, the Ambassador said.

He added that over the years, China and ECOWAS have continuously deepened their political mutual trust, strengthen practical cooperation, enhance cooperation in peace and stability of the region and also promote people-to-people exchanges. According to him, it was against the fast-changing international landscape that the relationship between China and ECOWAS has remained vibrant.

He strongly believed that building will enhance the operational capacity of the ECOWAS Commission and provide a profound platform for member to chart the future of the regional development.

The official handover of the symbolic key of the building to the President, ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, was witnessed by regional leaders, including the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, ambassador Bianco Ojukwu amidst cheers and appreciation to the President of the People’s Republic of China, President Xi Jinping.

Ambassador Dunhai said that since the formal establishment of relations in the 1990s, China and ECOWAS have upheld the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

“We have deepened political mutual trust, strengthened practical cooperation, expanded cooperation in peace and security and intensified people-to-people exchanges, actively building a strategic partnership that has become a model of South-South cooperation.

“Looking back over more than half a century of standing together through thick and thin, the profound friendship between China and ECOWAS remains as fresh as ever and continues to thrive with strong vitality.

“Political mutual trust forms the important foundation for the healthy development of China-ECOWAS relations. China respects ECOWAS’s independently chosen path of development and supports ECOWAS in playing a leading role in West African affairs. In 2003, the Chinese government formally appointed a representative to ECOWAS, concurrently served by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, opening a new chapter in China-ECOWAS relations.

“High-level interactions between the two sides are frequent. We maintain close coordination within multilateral frameworks such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the African Union, and hold similar positions on issues including climate change, food security and global governance reform.”

He added that China has repeatedly reaffirmed its support for ECOWAS in advancing the regional integration process, respects the right of regional countries to independently resolve their internal affairs, and opposes external interference in West Africa’s internal affairs. ECOWAS and its member states firmly adhere to the One-China principle and have provided strong support to China on issues regarding its core interests and major concerns.

“Practical cooperation serves as the core driving force for upgrading the quality and efficiency of China-ECOWAS relations. Leveraging the FOCAC and the Belt and Road Initiative, bilateral cooperation has extended from traditional infrastructure such as roads and ports to new areas including the digital economy, green energy, and modern agriculture, with outcomes benefiting thousands of households across West Africa. China has announced that starting from May 1 this year, it will fully implement zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries with diplomatic relations with China, significantly lowering the threshold for West

“African products to enter the Chinese market. Chinese agricultural experts have taken root in West Africa, promoting high-yield crop cultivation techniques and water-saving irrigation models to help the region enhance its food self-sufficiency.”  According to him, through technical training, capacity building and material assistance, China supports ECOWAS in improving its integrated governance capabilities in areas such as public administration, customs supervision, and disaster response, injecting strong momentum into regional sustainable development.

“Cooperation in peace and security is an important guarantee for the steady and long-term development of China-ECOWAS relations. ECOWAS plays a key role in regional peacekeeping, stability maintenance and crisis mediation.
“China consistently upholds the common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept and actively supports ECOWAS in enhancing its independent security capabilities. Since the 1990s, China has participated in United Nations peacekeeping operations in West African countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire, making important contributions to the restoration of peace and stability in the region.

“China actively supports ECOWAS in building capacity for counter-terrorism, stability maintenance, border control, and humanitarian assistance, helping the region address security risks at their root. China advocates that development is the fundamental solution to security issues.”

Dunhai held that by promoting economic cooperation and improving people’s livelihoods and employment, China helps lay a solid social foundation for long-term peace and stability in West Africa, achieving a virtuous cycle between security and development.

“People-to-people exchanges serve as a bridge connecting the hearts and minds of China and ECOWAS. Exchanges in education, culture, tourism, media, youth and other fields between the two sides have become increasingly close.

“China continues to provide government scholarships to ECOWAS member states, training a large number of localized talents for West Africa. Every year, hundreds of West African youth travel to China to pursue further studies in fields such as engineering and technology, medical and health sciences, agricultural science and technology as well as public administration.

“Chinese medical teams have long been stationed in West Africa, carrying out disease prevention and treatment, medical training, and emergency rescue. They have fought side by side with the West African people in combating public health emergencies such as the Ebola epidemic and COVID-19. Activities such as mutual visits by cultural groups, art exhibitions, and film and television exchanges have enhanced mutual understanding, with China’s intangible cultural heritage and West Africa’s traditional music and dance complementing each other brilliantly.
“Against the backdrop of a turbulent international situation and the accelerated advancement of African integration, China-ECOWAS relations are ushering in broader prospects for development. China is ready to work with ECOWAS to seize development opportunities, tackle common challenges, and push bilateral cooperation to a new level in the following four aspects:

“First, we will continue to deepen political mutual trust, maintain regular communication at all levels, improve institutionalized cooperation platforms, strengthen coordination and collaboration in multilateral affairs, and jointly safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

“Second, we will promote the quality upgrading of practical cooperation, strengthen the alignment between China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and ECOWAS’s Vision 2050, fully release the benefits of zero-tariff treatment, and promote industrial upgrading and economic diversification in West Africa.

“Third, we will jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, strengthen cooperation in non-traditional security fields, pursue security through development and ensure development through stability, and help West Africa achieve lasting peace and security.

“Fourth, we will cultivate deeper roots of people-to-people friendship, take the opportunity of successfully hosting this year’s “China-Africa Year of People to People Exchanges” to expand in-depth exchanges in the humanities field and enhance mutual understanding and affinity between the peoples of the two sides.

Deep roots lead to lush fruits; fertile soil produces brilliance.”

The Ambassador held that friendly cooperation between China and ECOWAS has been tempered by time and its foundation has become ever more solid and looking ahead, he insisted that the tree of China-West Africa friendship will surely grow with luxuriant branches and leaves, bearing abundant fruits.

“I firmly believe that the new chapter in China-ECOWAS relations that we jointly write will make even greater contributions to building a closer China-Africa community with a shared future and to promoting development and prosperity in West Africa and across the entire African continent”, he added.